The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Chapter 47 - 47: Night Parade of One Hundred Demons

"Mess with my sister? You're courting death."

Hidden amidst the snow-laden forest, Yun Yan Shui stood tall, his piercing gaze fixed on the distant snowfield where the gray-haired elder now lay. An arrow protruded from the man's forehead, his lifeless body sprawled on the icy ground, blood pooling in dark, stark contrast to the pristine white.

Calmly, Yun Yan Shui lowered his bow. The gleaming weapon, freshly crafted and deadly precise, disappeared beneath a shroud of black cloth as he meticulously rewrapped it.

From the break of dawn, Yun Yan Shui had trailed the group silently, departing from the Yun family village to reach Yunzhang County. He had remained a shadow, concealed, his presence undetected even by his sister Yan Shuang or cousin Yan Tian. His father's words rang clear in his mind — protect them from the shadows, let this journey be their trial.

This was their battle, a test of resolve and strength, and he had honored that. Silent as a wraith, he observed the clash between his siblings and the gray-haired cultivator. He let them struggle, saw them falter, but remained patient, even as his heart clenched with each passing blow they endured.

But when his sister was pinned to the ground by chains of spiritual steel, her strength waning, and when his cousin was struck down, blood staining the snow around him — that was when Yun Yan Shui acted.

He didn't need a second arrow.

Channeling his Qi, Yun Yan Shui had drawn upon his finely honed control, manifesting a single arrow of pure spiritual energy. The trajectory was calculated, every inch of his strike guided by his unyielding focus. From his vantage point, his senses expanded, his target locked. The moment came, and with unerring precision, the arrow was loosed.

The result spoke for itself.

The elder, so confident moments prior, now lay lifeless, his body testament to the fatal flaw of underestimating the unseen threat. His eyes, still wide with terror, stared into nothingness, as if seeking an answer to the silent force that had undone him.

The remnants of his aura faded with the wind.

From his hidden perch, Yun Yan Shui exhaled slowly, his breath condensing into mist against the cold air. His task was done. His siblings were safe.

"Time to head back."

Without a sound, his figure melded into the shadows, vanishing into the wintery landscape as though he had never been there. What remained were the echoes of his lethal precision, the guardian unseen.

In the clearing below, the lifeless elder's once-mighty presence dissipated completely. The spiritual rings that had bound Yan Shuang shimmered faintly before disintegrating, freeing her in an instant.

Pulling herself up from the ground, Yan Shuang wasted no time. She scrambled to her cousin's side, worry etched deeply across her face. "Yan Tian, are you all right?"

A weak cough answered her. Yun Yan Tian forced himself upright, his face pale and his breath labored, but the defiance in his eyes still burned. "I'll be fine. The old man's strike… just shook me up a little. Nothing that won't heal."

Relief washed over Yan Shuang's expression, though the tension in her posture remained. She turned her gaze to the fallen elder, her eyes narrowing. "He's dead," she said firmly.

Yan Tian blinked, confused. "You… you killed him?"

"Yes." Yan Shuang's voice was steady, but inside, she felt the weight of her unspoken lie. It had not been her blade that struck the elder down. She knew, without doubt, who had intervened. Her brother, Yan Shui, had been watching, guarding them in secret.

But she wouldn't reveal him, not now.

Instead, she met her cousin's gaze and nodded. "I waited for the right moment," she explained, voice unwavering. "When he lowered his guard to attack you, I struck. It was enough."

Yan Tian managed a faint grin. "That's the Yan Shuang I know… quick, decisive, and sharp."

A faint blush crept into her cheeks, but she quickly hid it, shifting the topic. "Rest here. I'll

As he entered the village, a few clansmen shoveling snow from their doorsteps looked up curiously.

"Yan Shui, where've you been in this weather?" one elder asked, pausing mid-swipe.

"Heh, went hunting in the mountains," Yan Shui replied with a grin.

"Hunting? In this snowstorm? What's even left to hunt in the mountains now?"

"Oh, there's plenty if you know where to look," Yan Shui quipped, patting the sack at his waist. "Shot down a wild boar earlier. Couldn't carry the whole thing back, so I brought some legs home instead."

"Wild boar, in this snow?" The elder raised a skeptical brow but peered at the contents of Yan Shui's sack. Sure enough, fresh cuts of boar meat rested inside.

"Impressive. Didn't think anything was stirring in this storm."

"Uncle, want some? I've got plenty," Yan Shui offered, smiling.

The elder waved him off. "Nah, lad, you keep it. You earned it."

"Alright then," Yan Shui said, pulling his sack back over his shoulder. "I'm heading home before I freeze solid. This cold's biting through my cloak."

"You're lucky nothing happened to you out there," the elder chided. "Don't be so reckless. Your parents would never forgive you if something went wrong."

Yan Shui laughed sheepishly. "You're right, Uncle. Next time, I'll wait for spring."

"Smart lad. Now, off you go. Don't catch your death out here."

"Will do. See you around, Uncle!" Yan Shui waved goodbye, heading home in a hurry.

Once inside, he shrugged off his snow-dusted cloak and unwrapped the bundled spirit bow he had concealed earlier. He placed it aside carefully before settling near the roaring hearth to warm his chilled hands.

"Back already?" Yun Yun Shan's voice came from the side.

"Hey, Dad," Yan Shui greeted casually, his grin widening. "Mission accomplished. Everything's fine."

"You sure?" Yun Shan's gaze held steady, searching for any sign of doubt.

Yan Shui nodded firmly. "I handled it."

"And the boar?" His mother's voice chimed in as she entered, a curious smile on her face.

"Ah, yes!" Yan Shui perked up. "Brought back some prime cuts. Roast it up, will you? I'm starving!"